Tiana Vasiljev

Designer; Bookseller; Retailer / / Beautiful Pages

Tiana Vasiljev’s Notable Books of 2011

Every designer will agree that there is something truly wonderful in picking up a well-written and beautifully designed book.
The following publications focus on the areas of typography, graphic design, and product design. The selection of books on this list have been impeccably written and designed to the highest standards. They are all new and essential publications that have surprised, inspired, and informed me throughout the year. I can only hope that they will all one day find a place in your design library.

6 books
Sophie Lovell

I fell in love with the work of Dieter Rams when I first visited his exhibition at the Design Museum in London. There is nothing as exciting as seeing such a large collection of his products on display in one place. However, I must say that this book comes extremely close. As Little Design as Possible is by far the most elegant and well-documented book written about Dieter Rams. The range of selected paper stock, minimalist design, and wide variety of visual matter displayed throughout the publication makes this book an essential for every designer. It is a very clear, comprehensive, and beautiful presentation of the designer's work and philosophy. It is a crucial piece for anyone interested in Rams’s products, legacy, and ideas.

Paul Shaw

This book is a true type nerd’s delight. Helvetica and the New York City Subway System is one of the most well researched books I’ve ever read. Shaw’s beautifully illustrated publication is impeccably documented throughout and very well written. I was blown away by the amount of information and visuals contained throughout the book. Paul Shaw combines the facts and visual evidence, taking the reader on a historical journey into the world of the New York city subway system.

Els Kuijpers

Anyone with a love for Dutch design will be fascinated by Ootje Oxenaar's latest monograph. A key public principal of Dutch graphic design, his portfolio of work is phenomenal. The publication showcases decades of brilliant design work along with Kuijpers’s wonderfully documented text. With a collection of hundreds of images and photographs, Oxenaar's intelligent and innovative works are once again given new light. Ootje Oxenaar: Designer + Commissioner will delight and surprise every designer lucky enough to get the chance to read it.

Chantal Prod'Hom
Martin Woodtli

I have long been a Sagmeister fan. His innovative work has proven that design really does have the power to move people. His latest publication is a very elegant and classic book, designed by Martin Woodtli, a previous intern of Sagmeister's. Unlike his previous books, this publication deals entirely with the studio's commercial projects and explores the art of selling. The sections that I found most interesting are Sagmeister's honest and insightful stories of his various life experiences scattered throughout the book. They're a very funny, honest, and intensely personal look at the life, work and philosophy of this design legend.

Ben Bos

The latest book by Unit Editions is based on the personal memories of Ben Bos, a key member of the Total Design studio. TD 63-73 chronicles the story of Total Design’s golden period through a series of written accounts and a very impressive collection of images from the TD archive. The publication is wonderfully documented, well researched, and designed to the highest standards. It is by far one of the most inspiring and insightful publications of the year and is an essential piece for every designer's library.

Wim Crouwel: A Graphic Odyssey is a catalogue that offers a very rare and insightful glimpse into a large collection of Crouwel’s posters, documents, and manuals. The center pages are dedicated to an interview with Crouwel (conducted by Tony Brook) offering an insight into his early life, his formative years, and his design philosophy. The book takes us on a truly inspiring voyage through the life and work of this design master.

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